A controversial TV preacher branded a 'heretic' by critics took her place at the President's right hand during a White House strategy meeting yesterday.

Evangelist Paula White has been a key ally to the new President and was a strong supporter in his election campaign.

She heads a group of evangelical leaders which will provide feedback to the President during his administration.

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Donald Trump helps evangelist Paula White take her seat at the meeting in the Roosevelt Room at the White House

The President posted a picture of himself and his inner circle praying after he announced his nomination of Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court

She sat to the President's right as key Trump supporters discussed the appointment of Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court in the Roosevelt Room.

When she was introduced to the group gathered around the table, who also included Wayne LaPierre, CEO of the National Rifle Association (NRA), Trump said: 'Thank you Paula, and thank you for your help during the campaign.'

Trump and White have been friends for 15 years, after he called into a Christian TV station where he had seen her preach to voice his admiration.

Addressing White, his friend of 15 years, Trump said: 'Thank you for your help during the campaign'. To his left is Wayne LaPierre, executive vice president of the NRA

Yesterday the President posted a picture of himself and his inner circle praying.

He wrote alongside the image: 'Moment of prayer last night after my nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch for #SCOTUS. It was an honor having Maureen and Fr. Scalia join us.‬'

The Republican was heavily supported by evangelists, buoyed by campaign pledges such as the withdrawal of funding to Planned Parenthood, and received an estimated 80 per cent of the evangelical vote.

White (left) will give the President regular feedback, leading a group of religious leaders to discuss the administration's actions

It is expected that key religious allies such as White and fellow televangelist James Robison will have close access to the President during his administration.

Trump supporter Jerry Falwell Jr, president of the Virginia-based Liberty University, a non-profit Christian institute, told the Washington Post: 'I think Trump is more one of us. He’s not an elitist.

'He doesn’t look down his nose at evangelicals and Christians and conservatives. I’m very shocked by how accessible he is to so many. He answers his cellphone any time of the day or night.'

Donald Trump led discussions in the White House meeting about the Supreme Court nomination

White leads an evangelical advisory board with other religious leaders, which is set to meet weekly and offer feedback to the President, the New York Times reports.

She said last month, before the inauguration: 'I know that President-elect Trump has a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. We’ve had in-depth conversations about God.'

Similar meetings were held during Trump's campaign.

The appointment of conservative Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court position which has been empty since the death of Antonin Scalia in February last year.

Trump had promised a right-wing appointment in Scalia's mould, and Christianity Today reported that 70 per cent of white evangelical voters said the Supreme Court appointment was a top election concern.

THE CONTROVERSIAL PREACHER IN TRUMP'S INNER CIRCLE

Ahead of the inauguration, White came under scathing attack from fellow evangelicals, with critics branding her a 'heretic'.

A video was published showing her describing Jesus Christ as the firstborn of God's creation.

In a strongly-worded editorial, conservative blogger Erick Erickson wrote: 'Christians have an obligation to speak in defense of their faith. Trump letting this heretic pray in Jesus’s name should offend every Bible believing Christian.'

And Southern Baptist public policy spokesman Russell Moore tweeted earlier this year: 'Paula White is a charlatan and recognized as a heretic by every orthodox Christian, of whatever tribe.'

White, a Florida-based pastor, hit back at her critics, CBN reported, responding that she believed 'in the exclusivity and divinity of Jesus Christ, His saving grace and substitutionary atonement made available to all by His death on the cross'.